Book Review: The Keeper by Suzanne Woods Fisher (and an iPad giveaway!)

This is a new series from Suzanne Woods Fisher. I like how she writes about the Amish people in a way that is believable as well as entertaining. I'm sure the next books in the series will be as good.

About The Keeper:

Can Julia secure the future she’s always dreamed of? Or does God have something else in mind? 4 Stars from Romantic Times, “The Stoney Ridge Season starts off with characters who are trying to make the right choices, but sometimes with unexpected results. Fisher always brings freshness to her Amish novels. The Amish culture is interesting to read and learn about, but there is also a message: God has plans and those plans may vary greatly from the plans you have”.

I can identify with Julia, the main character in this book. When I read how she was rejected by her soon-to-be husband, Paul, I remembered the day I was hurt by an old boyfriend I had one summer many years ago. I, too, began to think of ways I could win him back. I soon realized, however, that I was better off without him. And, as in Julia's case, I learned many lessons about love along the way.

There's more to this book than your usual romance and sweet family life. There's also tragedy, life-changing struggles, and redemption. The plot is a good one because of these many facets. Mrs. Fisher's books keep getting better and better.

I give The Keeper 4 1/2 stars!

(By the way, just like Julia, my story has a happy ending: after accepting the fact that my former boyfriend was not the one for me, I met and eventually married my husband of 30 years!)

(I received this book from Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

About the author:

Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world. In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don’t have to “go Amish” to incorporate many of their principles—simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily— into your life.

When Suzanne isn’t writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne’s way of thinking, you just can’t take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone’s underwear in its mouth. Suzanne can be found on-line at: http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/.

Giveaway:

The Keeper is in stores now and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting a “Honey” of a Giveaway and a fabulous FB Party (1/17).

*During the giveaway one Grand Prize Winner will receive a Prize Pack (valued at $600):


* A brand new 16 KB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi

* A $25 gift certificate to iTunes
* A copy of The Keeper


Then on 1/17 join Suzanne for The Keeper FB Party at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST, 8:00 EST)!


During the party Suzanne will announce the winner of the “Honey” of an iPad Giveaway and host a fun book chat and give away some fun “honey” inspired prizes – It’ll be ’sweet"! RSVP early and tell your friends!

The iPad giveaway: http://promoshq.wildfireapp.com/website/6/contests/183799
Running now until January 17th

The Facebook Party: http://www.facebook.com/events/209723589116292
Party is on January 17th, and the winner of the prize package will be announced there.
 
Be sure and enter today!

Book Review: The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher

(Be sure to read to the end of this post to see how you can have a chance to win some great prizes in The Search iPad Giveaway!)

I have friends who read Amish books a lot. Although I understand the fascination with the Amish way of life, I don't think I could read as many books about the Amish as they do. I have read many Amish books, however, and I believe that Suzanne Woods Fisher is one of the best authors of Amish fiction. I hope to read many more by this author.

Since the day I read The Waiting by Ms. Fisher, I knew I wanted to read the next book in this series. I became captivated by the story of Ben and Jorie and longed for more. When Revell offered this book for review, I jumped at the chance.

The Search is the story of Lainey O'Toole, Bess Reihl, and their families. When Lainey's car breaks down in the Amish town of Stoney Ridge, she decides to spend the summer there. Days turn into months as she meets and is befriended by Bess, who is spending her summer with her grandmother, Bertha, at her rose farm. Bess is not enjoying her time there until she meets Billy Lapp, Bertha's hired hand. This changes her mind about her situation. Bess is soon smitten and is determined to win Billy from the clutches of the girl he thinks he loves.

However, there are details about Bess' and Lainey's past that neither one of them know about. When the secrets are revealed, both girls are left reeling.

The only thing I did not like about this book was the fact that the characters and their relationships to each other were hard to keep straight. I had to draw a family tree for myself so that I could understand better what was going on. But I consider that a minor irritation and one that I don't think detracted too much from the enjoyment of the book.

There are many twists in this book that will keep you wanting to read late into the night. I was thrilled to read an Amish tale that was not so utopian as most other books like this that make the characters' lives seem so perfect. As I heard just a few days ago, you need conflict in a book in order to make it interesting. And The Search is interesting as well as satisfying. I recommend it to all who like a clean, yet not boring, read.

I give The Search 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Available January 2011 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

(I received this book from Revell for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)

Suzanne Woods Fisher's latest installment of the Lancaster County Secrets, The Search,  is just out and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Search iPad Giveaway!

One Grand Prize winner will receive an iPad Prize Package worth over $500 and includes:

          A brand new iPad (16KB with Wi-Fi)

          Signed copies of all three Lancaster Country Secrets books (The Choice, The Waiting, & The Search)

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form/s, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest. Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on February 3rd at Suzanne's Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party. (Did you know The Search takes place on a rose farm?)

 

Facebook Party:

Join Suzanne for the Everything is Coming Up Roses Facebook Party on February 3rd! She’ll be announcing the winner of the The Search iPad Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Search, giving away copies of all three books and HEAPS of other readerly prizes! Including roses delivered to your door for three months for you AND a friend! Be sure to join us on Thursday, February 3rd at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne’s Author Page.

Book Review: The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher

(Be sure and read the bottom of this post to see how you can enter to win a FREE KINDLE!)

I remember a time when I thought I would have liked to be Amish. Think about it: simple, slow living, pacifistic, down-to-earth, and solid faith in God. Who wouldn't want to live like that?

Well, of course, there are many people who would go stir crazy living like the Amish. Because it would mean no cell phones, no electricity, no cars, no fancy clothes, etc. And I know my children couldn't imagine life without computers or movies! But I still think it would be nice (maybe for a week or two, anyway).

I do get a little wistful when I read books like The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher. I tend to romanticize the Amish way of life and block out the hard work and sacrifices they make in order to live like they do. But, I suppose I am getting a little taste by reading books like this.

The Waiting is about Jorie King, who anticipates the homecoming of her friend, Ben Zook, who left with the promise to come back and marry her. And it is also about Caleb, Ben's brother, who realizes how much he loves Jorie and has decided he would like to ask her to be his wife. But when news arrives of Ben's death, everything that was once right seems to be very wrong. Jorie is torn between the two men she loves and Caleb's world is suddenly uncertain.

The setting of the novel is 1965 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Fisher paints a beautiful picture of the Amish life. However, she is also realistic in her writing when she tells of the Vietnam War, the hatred some people had for the blacks during that time, and the struggles the Amish sometimes have in living among "the English" people. There is a great sense of the time period in this book.

I liked this book. It was not "fluffy", nor was it all happiness. The conflict between good and evil were clearly shown and not treated lightly. I especially liked the way the author developed the romance between the characters and how she wrote about characters that seem very real. Anyone who likes to read Amish fiction would enjoy The Waiting.

I give The Waiting 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Available October 2010 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California. Find out more about Suzanne at http://www.suzannewoodsfisher.com/

Enter to win your very own KINDLE in Suzanne Woods Fisher’s KINDLE Giveaway! Enter at the link below and then be sure to attend Suzanne’s Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party on October 28th to see if you won (and to chat about books and win one of the MANY other prizes Suzanne is giving away)!http://www.litfusegroup.com/Blog-Tours/the-waiting-blog-tour.html

(I received this book from LitFuse and Revell Books for review purposes. I received no monetary compensation for this review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.)